Moving

[Irene Adler]

I have plans to move to Virginia in two months from now, and have a question. Perhaps someone has an answer that might help.

What is the best way to go about moving furniture without having to spend too much? Should I rent a U-haul? Is there a less expensive way than that? I've never moved with stuff before. LoL. I'm usually just a throw my cares to the wind and just pack a suitcase and guitar kind of girl.

 

[Puff Daddy]

Sweet talk some big young guy, you'll get your stuff moved free and easy :lol:

Just set it over there big boy

 

[adauria]

Having made a 500 mile move, I can tell you that the money I spent on a professional moving service (and you need to be careful there too - lots of scams) was well worth it.

But my buddy did a 1500+ mile move and did it himself. How? He sold or gave away everything that didn't fit into a van he bought for a few hundred bucks. He also rented a uhaul trailer that he could pull from said van.

Check pricing though - it can be very expensive to do a one way rental on a truck or trailer.

In any case, you will want to slim down, drop the dead weight. Consider what you need to keep, and what might be cheaper to buy again on the other side.

-Andrew

 

[Doc Manhattan]

I had a friend who did a "PODS" move cross-country (CT->CA) and had a reasonably good experience. They drop a shipping container in your driveway, you fill it up, and then schedule it to be delivered to your destination or to their storage. You do the load/unload; they do the trucking.

Not what I'd choose for a long haul, but he's very good at the logistics of packing (and also had a driveway.) Spent a week packing everything that could be boxed, then one long morning a friend and I helped him and his lady load it up.

 

[LtMac]

Unless you have lots of help with the big stuff and heavy items, I would check with the BBB in your area for a reputable moving ompany and use them. I've done it both ways and the "move it yourself route" is usually cheaper but you need at least two strong people and a dolly. In my younger days that was the best way, but now that I'm older it was best to hire a moving company.


LtMac

 

[ftrplt]

Miz Amy...Are you taking/towing a car? If so, renting a "U-Haul" truck and car dolly may be the least expensive way to go. My daughter moved from DFW to Raleigh, NC a few years ago and found this to be her least expensive (not cheap, least expensive!!) option. I heartily support getting rid of everything you do not absolutely need. I'll bet there is at least one "Three guys and a truck" moving company around Ada. Hire them to do the heavy lifting on your truck and stowing your car (if any) on the dolly. You can pack boxes, they can load them! I'll also bet there is a similar company where ever you're going in Va. that will unload it for you. You might find a mover who will take your stuff to Va. However, I'm guessing you have what movers call a "partial" load. If so, your stuff won't go until the driver has a full load. Which means your belongings will arrive about three days after the Titanic docks in NYC!!! Two months from now starts the 'heavy' moving season. If you decide to use a mover, better get it scheduled asap. A "PODS" move might be good for you if available in Ada.

If (again!) you decide to drive a "U-Haul," allow extra driving time. You won't be doing 80 on I-40!! It's 20 driving hours to Raleigh, NC from OKC averaging 60mph. I doubt you'll average 60 in a U-Haul van. DC, Richmond, etc. are a bit further. I drive these routes a lot (leaving this coming Tuesday!); I've got this timing thing down pretty good! Let us know what you decide and good luck on your move!! FTRPLT

 

[Carlos]

Is I40 open though The Gorge yet? If you tow a Uhaul trailer, make sure your vehicle is up to it. A lot of hills to climb and go down.

 

[Hermit]

I'd need a U-Haul just for tobacco and cigars. :lol:

 

[Tennessee Dave]

My daughter did the POD and it was the cheapest best way.

 

[DoverPipes]

Best idea of all......
Marry a VERY rich guy and he'll buy you everything you will ever need.
If that doesn't work, go for the U-Haul. I've done that with all of my moves. Just make sure you go to a larger franchise location to get a better selection of vans / trucks. If you go to "Mom & Pops" gas station, they will probably be renting the worst pieces of crap on four wheels!!!!

Good luck with the move and be careful driving!!!!

 

[ftrplt]

Is I40 open though The Gorge yet? If you tow a Uhaul trailer, make sure your vehicle is up to it. A lot of hills to climb and go down.

I haven't checked in a couple weeks. It was supposed to be open in March, latest April. Google "I-40 Rockslide." I would hope that by May it will be open. I didn't mention it as I presumed Amy would go some combination of I-40, I-81, I-64, I-66 into the Va/DC area. FTRPLT

For Amy: If you want any routing suggestions, please feel free to PM me. FTRPLT

Just checked with the NCDOT. Now saying late April for opening.

 

[Winslow]

We moved to Virginia from Illinois last December,it's 850 miles....probably the same
distance as Oklahoma from Virginia.We had a townhouse with the usual furniture and it
cost $2700 to have a moving company do it.

Winslow :sunny:

 

[sstodvictory]

If you're near a college town and moving to or near another one, you may be able to find student-run moving services at both ends that will do just the packing and unpacking for you. You'd still have to rent a truck, but the arrangement could take most of the bother out of it for a reasonable price. I've used student movers for local moves.

Steve

 

[ftrplt]

We moved to Virginia from Illinois last December,it's 850 miles....probably the same
distance as Oklahoma from Virginia.We had a townhouse with the usual furniture and it
cost $2700 to have a moving company do it.

Winslow :sunny:

1221 miles from OKC house to Raleigh house!! FTRPLT

 

[Hunter5117]

Amy, we have moved 7 times and prepped for an 8th that never happened. We have used all of the above. If you can swing it, having professional movers is far and away the best way to do it almost stress free. Second would be the Pods if they service your areas. Last (and way at the bottom of the list) is to do it yourself with rental trucks/trailers, regardless of number of friends and big strapping guys enamored by your considerable beauty and feminine charms. Save those for some other worthy reason :lol:

Of course this somewhat depends on how much stuff you have, but if you are like the rest of us you likely have accumulated a bit.

Regardless of how you do it, my rule has always been that guns, guitars, cameras, computers and pipes/cigars travel with me. Even if I had to send the children in the moving van

 

[thedeep]

I'm the "friend" everyone calls when they are moving. I have moved a bunch of folks across town and several across country. Did a move for a friend from here in Indiana to Whidbey Island, near Seattle. Took two 26' vans and we still didn't get all of his ****. But, I had a 26'van with 37000 on it. I can load almost anything. So, before you think about u-haul, etc.....
What are you driving? How big/strong is it? How large a trailer will it pull---safely? How comfortable are you with the idea of pulling a trailer? If you've never done it before--rethink the plan. How much help will you have loading and unloading? I once loaded a 25' truck--by myself. That included a freezer, two stoves, two fridges, etc, etc. Never again.
Once helped a ladyfriend prepare for a move to Hawaii. She had lots of really cool old antique furniture. I could not believe she would just set it in the yard and sell it. She reminded me, "John, it's ONLY furniture. The important stuff--pics of my kids/family, gifts, mementos, etc--are the important stuff. I can always buy more furniture."
The more you think it through, ahead of time, the better.
Good luck.

 

[Irene Adler]

Thank you so much for the input! I have friends on both ends who are going to help me with loading/ unloading...and I've decided to take a U-haul.

Though I have never driven a large truck...now's as good a time as any to learn. Then...next time I make a big move I can just say, "No problem...I've done this before!"

 

[jhuggett]

Good way to look at it!